Why he's important: Coach Brian Polian was open with his displeasure with Nevada's safety play last season, so he brought in Workman, a junior-college transfer to help fix the issue. Workman, who has also spent time at Army and Colorado State, has shown well in spring and fall camp and must stabilize the back seven as the team's most-experienced safety (even though this is his first full FBS season).

Ideal role: Barring an injury, Workman will start at safety in 2014. He's undersized (listed at 6 feet, which is generous), but plays with reckless abandon. He's a fiery guy who doesn't mind sacrificing his body. Nevada needs some consistency out of its safeties, both in the running game (limiting 10-plus-yard runs) and in the passing game (via deep coverage). Over the years, Nevada's safety play has typically struggled, which can't be the case again this year if the Pack is going to have an above-average defense.